Loose-leaf metal binding device



Feb. 4, 19414 E. A. THESIERES LOOSE-LEAF METAL BINDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Shet l FileQ Nov. 29, 1938 IN YEN TOR ErnestA. Thesz'eres ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 4, 1941. E. A. THESIERES LOOSE-LEAF METAL BINDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 29, 1938 [N VEN TOR Ernest A Th esz' eras E ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOSE-LEAF METAL BINDING DEVICE Application November 29, 1938, Serial No. 242,903

6 Claims.

This invention relates to loose-leaf metal binding devices and has for its objects the provision of a new and improved device of this type.

More particularly stated, it is one of the objects of this invention to produce a loose-leaf metal binding device, the binding rings of which are continuous and are joined together to a single element, which shall be comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

It is another of the objects of this invention to produce a. loose-leaf metal binding device, of the type where a, plurality of continuous rings are attached to a single bar, the rings of which may be kept from revolving while the leaves are being mounted.

It is another of the objects of this invention to produce a loose-leaf metal binding device wherein the tearing of the sheets due to travel upon the rings is reduced to a minimum.

It is another of the objects of this invention to produce a loose-leaf metal binding device which will have all of the advantages but none of the disadvantages of what are now termed plastic binding devices, which may be used in combination with sheets which are originally designed to be carried by plastic binding devices.

For the purpose of illustrating my inventive concepts, I have shown in the drawings which form a. part hereof and I will now describe two loose-leaf metal binding devices embodying said concepts.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my novel loose-leaf metal binding device incorporated into a, binder. The major portion of each of the cover halves of the binder has been broken away in order to permit the showing of the loose-leaf metal binding device on as large a scale as possible. The full and dotted lines show the positions of the elements when the ring bar is latched. The dot and dash lines show the open position of the latch and the first position to which the ring bar is moved in the act of opening the rings of the loose-leaf metal binding device.

Figure 2 is a plan view of my novel binder with the rings in the open position.

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1. The dot and dash lines show fragments of the leaves which are carried by the binder.

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2 with the dot and dash lines showing the leaves which are carried by the binder.

Figure 5 is an enlarged end view of the binder shown in Figure 1 looking from the latch end.

Figure 6 is an enlarged side view of a fragment of the binder at the latch end. The front part of one of the walls of the base bar has been broken away to show otherwise hidden parts. The full lines show the latched position of the ring bar while the dot and dash lines show the first position to which the ring bar is moved in the act of opening the rings.

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a fragment of the binder shown in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a fragment of the leaf which is bound by the looseleaf binders shown in Figures 1 to 7 and Figures 9 to 16.

Figure 9 is a plan view of a modification of the binder shown in Figure 1. The full and dotted lines show the positions of the elements when the ring bar is latched. The dot and. dash lines show the open position of the latch and the first position to which the ring bar is moved in the act of opening the rings.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the binder shown in Figure 9 with the rings in the open position.

Figure 11 is an enlarged section taken along the line H-ll of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is an enlarged section taken along the line I2I 2 of Figure 9.

Figure 13 is an enlarged section taken along the line |3--i 3 of Figure 10.

Figure 14 (see Sheet 1) is an enlarged plan View of that fragment of the loose-leaf metal binding device which includes the major portion of the latch. The latch is shown in the closed position. The upper part of one of the walls of the base bar has been broken away to show otherwise hidden parts.

Figure 15 (see Sheet 1) is an enlarged section of a. fragment taken along the line I 5l5 of Figure 2.

Figure 16 is a section of a fragment taken along the line |I3l6 of Figure 1. The dot and dash lines show leaves which are carried by the binder.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar parts, reference numeral l designates the binder as a unit. The binder I comprises the cover 2 which is scored along the line 53 for ease in bending, the loose-leaf metal binding device 3 which is attached to the cover 2 by means of suitable rivets 4, and the leaves 5 which are detachably carried by said binder.

The loose-leaf metal binding device 3 comprises the base bar 6, the ring bar 1, and the latch 8.

The base bar 6 is U-shap-ed in cross section, is blanked out of a fiat piece of metal; and comprises a central or base portion II], which is flat for its entire length, and the two edge or wall portions II and I2 respectively. The wall portion II is inverse U-shaped in cross section and 5 has formed therein a series of spaced ring receiving slots I3. Each of these slots I3 is of a width and length sufficient to freely receive the free end of a ring I8. The wall portion I2 is inverse U-shaped in cross section and is cut out at a plurality of places to form the ring receiving notches I4 and the retaining fingers I5 The notches I4 are :of such length as to permit the rings I8 to move from their latched positions shown by the full lines in Figure 1 to their un- 15 latched positions shown by the dot and dash lines in said figure. The trough 54 of the inverse U-shaped wall I2 is of suflicient width and depth to freely receive the hollow shaft I! of the ring bar I. The wall I2 also has formed therein near one of the ends thereof a slot 21 through which the tooth 26 of the latch 8 extends when the latch is in its closed position. One face of the wall in which the slot 21 is formed is designated by the reference numeral 48 and the other face of said wall is designated by the reference numeral 49.

The ring bar I is blanked out of a single flat piece of metal and comprises the hollow shaft II from which extend a plurality of spaced apart U-shaped rings I8. Each of the rings I8 is substantially rectangular in cross section and terminates in a tooth I9 formed by the notch 29. The wall 2| of each tooth I9 is so positioned that when the rings I8 are in their closed and latched position it extends under and contacts the surface 22 of the wall II. Thisprevents the rings from revolving relatively to the base bar 6. The wall 23 of each notch 20 is inclined as shown for the purpose of facilitating the move- ?49 ment of the sheets 5 up the rings and to avoid tearing the sheets in their motion upon the rings. The sheets 5 have a plurality of spaced slots 3I formed therein by means of which they may be mounted upon the rings I8. The cross section of "45 these slots 3| is similar to the cross section of the rings I8, and the spacing of the slots is the same as that of the rings I8.

The latch 8 is blanked out of a single flat piece of metal and comprises a body member 24 which 50 terminates at one of its ends in the finger piece 25, which has extending therefrom the tooth 26, and which has formed therein the elongated slot 5|. The latch 8 is rotatably mounted upon the base bar 6 by means of a rivet 9 which ex- 55 tends through the slot 5| and into the portion ID of the base bar 6. The tooth 26 has extending upwardly therefrom the nodule 28 which extends slightly above the roof 29 of the slot 2! and serves to hold the latch against displacement 60 when the latch is in the closed position. One of the vertical walls 30 of the tooth 26 is straight and contacts the edge I6 of the shaft I! when the rings I8 and the latch 8 are in their respective closed and latched positions. The other of 65 the vertical walls of the tooth 26 is rounded at its lower end 46 and inclined at its upper end 41. The wall portion 41 combines with the edge 55 of the latch body portion 24 to form the acute angular notch 58. The notch wall 41 contacts 7 the wall 56 of the slot 21 when the latch is in the closed position and serves to hold the latch against displacement particularly when the binder is on its end.

Although the manner in which the binder is 75 assembledland'functions isbelieved to be-obvious from the foregoing description, yet to obviate any possibility of a misunderstanding the following detailed description is here given.

Let it be assumed that the base bar 6, the ring bar I, and latch 8 have been blanked out and that the latch 8 has been attached to the base bar 6 by means of the rivet 9. The base bar 6 is now attached tothe cover 2 by means of the rivets 4 in the manner well known in the art. Then the latch 8 is caused to assume the position shown in Figure 2. Thereafter, the ring bar I is associated with the base bar 6 and caused to assume the position shown in Figure 2 by inserting an end of the ring bar shaft I'I into the open end of the wall trough 54 and pushing the ring bar forward until it assumes the desired position. In doing this, the ring bar I is held so that the ring bar shaft IT is closest to the wall trough 54 and the rings I8 are on the same side of the wall trough 54 as are the rings shown in Figure 2. The assembly of the elements into a binder is now complete. As many leaves as may be desired are now mounted on the rings I8. It is desirable that the rings I 8 be kept from revolving While the leaves 5 are being mounted thereon. This is accomplished by sliding the ring bar I to the position where the rings I8 lie under the edges 58 of the fingers I5. After the leaves have been mounted the ring bar and the rings and leaves carried thereby are slid back to the position shown in Figure 2 where the rings I 8 are positioned in and extend from the notches Id. Thereafter, the ring bar I is revolved about its shaft I! as the axis of revolution and caused to assume the position shown by the dot and dash line in Figure 1 where the notched ends of the rings I8. are received within the slots I 3 formed in the wall I I of the base bar 6. Then the ring bar I is pushed from its dot and dash line position in Figure 1 to its full line position in said figure where the wall H of each tooth I3 extends beyond the edge 5'! of the slot I3 within which it is positioned, as is clearly shown in Figure 16. Then the latch 8. is moved from its dot and dash line position in Figure 1 to its full line position in said figure where the wall 30 of the tooth 26 contacts the wall I6 of. the shaft I1 and latches the ring bar I in its ring closed position. In moving the latch 8 to. this position, suflicient pressure must be exerted upon the finger piece 25 to force the nodule 28 under the roof 29 of the slot 21. The resiliency of the metal of which the base bar I and the latch 8 is made permits the nodule 28 to pass under the roof 29 when suificient pressure is applied. During the first phase of the movement of the latch 8 from its dot and dash line position in Figure 1 to its full line position in said figure, the rounded portion 45 of the latch 8 contacts the Wall 56 of the slot 2?. During this phase, the rivet 9 is contiguous to the left-hand end of the slot 5|, as shown in Figures 2 and 15. In the last phase of its motion, the latch 8 moves so that the wall 56 of the slot 21 enters the angular notch so formed by the walls 47 and 55. During this phase, the latch 8 not only rotates about the pivot 9 but also moves toward the left. At the end of this. phase, the rivet 9 is contiguous to the right-hand end of the slot 5I, as shown in Figure 14. This simultaneous motion of rotation and translation is made possible because the rivet 9 which serves as the pivot extends through the elongated slot 5|.

To open the binder in order to add or remove leaves, it is only necessary to move the latch 8 from its full line position in Figure 1 to its dot and dash line position in said figure, then'to slide the ring bar 1 from its full line position shown in Figure 1 to its dot and dash line position in said figure, and then to revolve the ring bar I about its axis, the shaft 11, so as to cause it to move from its dot and dash line position in Figure 1 to its position shown in Figure 2. In the course of the motion of thelatch 8 from its full line position shown in Figure 1 to its dot and dash line position in said figure, the wall 4'! thereof contacts the edge 56 of the slot 2'! with the result that the latch 8 not only rotates about the rivet 9 but also is caused to move to the right.

The loose-leaf metal binding device 33 of the binder 32 shown in Figures 9 to 13 inclusive differs from the loose-leaf metal binding device 3 shown in Figures 1 to 8 and 14 to 16 inclusive only in the following particulars:

((1) The slots 39 consisting of a portion 40 terminating in a narrow portion 4| have been substituted for the slots l3. Otherwise, the wall 3'! of the base bar 34 is exactly the same in structure as the wall I l of the base bar 3.

(b) The protuberance 44 has been substituted for the tooth l9. Otherwise, the rings 43 are exactly the same in structure as the rings l8. The protuberance 44 causes the ring at said point to be wider than the slot 41. This structure prevents the rings from being opened when they are in the position shown by the full lines in Figure 9.

Except for the changes hereinabove listed, the base bar 34 is exactly the same in structure as the base bar 6 and the ring bar 35 is exactly the same in structure as the ring bar 1. There is no difference in structure between the wall 38 and the wall l2, the latch 36 and the latch 8, the slot 52 and the slot the shaft 42 and the shaft IT. The rings 43 are opened and closed in exactly the same manner as the rings I8.

The foregoing disclosure is to be understood as being for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, since many changes may be made in the structures herein shown without departing from my invention. It is therefore my desire that the claims which are hereunto appended for the purpose of defining my invention should be limited only by the prior art.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and useful is:

l. A loose-leaf metal binding device comprising a base bar consisting of a substantially fiat central portion and two hollow bounding walls inverse U-shaped in cross section; a ring bar consisting of a hollow shaft having a plural number of U-shaped rings extending therefrom, said ring bar being mounted in one of said bounding walls for partial rotation on said base bar and for translative motion relatively to said base bar to either of two alternative positions; and a latch having a tooth extending therefrom mounted on said substantially fiat portion of said base bar for rotative and translative motion to either of two alternative positions, said tooth contacting said ring bar to latch the ring bar against translative motion in one of said alternative positions of the latch and being free of said ring bar in the other of said alternative positions of the latch.

2. A loose-leaf metal binding device comprising a base bar which is to be attached to the cover of the binder of which the loose-leaf binding device is to form a part; a ring bar mounted in said base bar for translative motion relatively to said base bar and for partial rotation on said base bar to either of two alternative positions, said ring bar consisting of a shaft and a plural number of spaced U'-shaped rings extending from said shaft; and a latch mounted upon said base bar for rotative and translative motion upon said base bar to either of two alternative positions, said latch contacting said ring bar to latch said ring bar against translative motion in one of the positions of said latch and being free of said ring bar in the other of the alternative positions of said latch.

3. A loose-leaf metal binding device comprising a base bar consisting of a substantially flat central section and two inverse U-shaped hollow bounding walls, one of said hollow bounding walls having formed therein a plural number of spaced ring receiving slots and the other of said hollow bounding walls having formed therein a plural number of ring receiving notches and a latch tooth receiving slot; a ring bar mounted in said notched hollow bounding wall for partial rotation on said base bar and for translative motion relatively to said base bar to a ring open or a ring closed position, said ring bar consisting of a shaft which is positioned within the trough of said notched hollow bounding wall, a plural number of spaced U-shaped rings extending from said shaft through one of said notches, and means formed on each of said rings near the free end thereof for contacting a portion of said slotted hollow bounding wall at one of said slots in the ring closed position of said ring bar to latch said ring bar against rotation on said base bar; and a latch mounted on said substantially fiat portion of said base bar for rotative and translative motion to either a ring bar latching or unlatching position, said latch consisting of a body member having a tooth formed thereon, said tooth extending through said latch tooth slot when said latch is in the ring bar latching position and contacting an edge of said ring bar when said ring bar is in the closed and latched position to latch said ring bar against rotative and translative motion.

4. A loose-leaf metal binding device comprising av base bar consisting of a substantially flat central portion and two inverse U-shaped hollow bounding walls formed from a single piece of flat metal, one of said hollow bounding walls having formed therein a plural number of spaced ring receivin slots and the other of said rollow bounding walls having formed therein a plural number of spaced notches and a latch tooth receiving slot; a ring bar mounted in said notched wall for partial rotation on said base bar and for translative motion relatively to said base bar to a ring open or ring closed and latched position, said ring bar being formed from a single piece of metal and consisting of a shaft positioned in the trough of said notched hollow bounding wall, a plural number of spaced Ushaped rings each extending from said shaft through one of said notches, each of said rings being substantially rectangular in cross section and being of less length than the length of the notch through which it extends; means formed on each of said rings near the free end thereof for contacting a portion of said slotted hollow bounding wall at one of said slots in the ring closed position of said ring bar to latch said ring-bar against r0 tation on said base bar; a latch positioned on said fiat portion of said base bar near one of the ends thereof for rotative and translative motion to either a ring bar latching or unlatching position, said latch consisting of a body portion having an elongated slot formed therein, a finger piece formed on said body portion near one of the ends thereof, and a tooth extending from said body portion, said tooth being so positioned as to extend through said latch tooth receiving slot when said latch is in the ring bar latching position and contact an edge of said ring bar when said ring bar is in the closed and latched position to hold said ring bar against translative motion relatively to said base bar; and a pivot extending through said elongated slot and attaching said latch to said central portion of said base bar.

5. A loose-leaf metal binding device comprising a base bar consisting of a substantially flat central portion and two inverse U-shaped hollow bounding walls formed from a single piece of fiat metal, the U base of one of said hollow bounding walls having formed therein a plural number of spaced ring receiving slots, one of the U arms of the other of said hollow boundin walls having formed therein a latch tooth receiving slot near one of the ends thereof, and the other of the U arms of said second hollow bounding wall having formed therein a plural number of spaced notches; a ring bar mounted in said notched hollow bounding wall for partial rotation on said base bar and for translative motion relatively to said base bar to either a ring open or a ring closed and latched position, said ring bar being formed from a single piece of flat metal and consisting of a shaft positioned within the trough of said notched hollow bounding wall, a plural number of U-shaped rings each extending from said shaft through one of said notches, each of said rings being substantially rectangular in cross section, being of less length than the length of the notch through which it extends, and having a V-shaped notch formed therein in one of its edges at the free end thereof, said notch defining a tooth for contacting a portion of the U base of the slotted wall at one of said ring receiving slots in the closed position of said ring bar to latch said ring bar against rotation on said base bar; a latch positioned on said flat portion of said base bar near one of the ends thereof for rotative and translative motion upon said base bar to either a latching or unlatching position, said latch consisting of a body portion having an elongated slot formed therein, a finger piece formed on said body portion near one of the ends thereof, and a tooth extending from said body portion, one of the walls of said latch tooth being inclined with reference to that edge of said latch body member which it meets so as to form an acute angle with said edge, said latch tooth having a nodule extending upwardly therefrom, and said latch tooth being so positioned as to extend through said latch tooth receiving slot formed in said notched wall and contact an edge of said ring bar when said ring bar is in the closed and latched position and said latch is in the latching position to hold said ring bar against translative motion relatively to said base bar; and a pivot extending through said elongated slot and attaching said latch to said central portion of said base bar.

6. A loose-leaf metal binding device comprising a base bar consisting of a substantially flat central portion terminating in two inverse U-shaped hollow bounding walls formed from a single piece of flat metal, the U base of one of said hollow bounding walls having formed therein a plural number of ring receiving slots, each of which is narrower at one of its ends than it is at the other, one of the U arms of the other of said hollow bounding walls having formed therein a latch tooth receiving slot near one of the ends thereof, and the other of the U arms of said second hollow bounding wall having formed therein a plural number of spaced notches; a ring bar mounted in said notched hollow bounding wall for partial rotation on said base bar and for translative motion relatively to said base bar to either a ring open or a ring closed and latched position, said ring being formed from a single piece of flat metal and consisting of a hollow shaft positioned within the trough of said notched hollow bounding wall, a plural number of spaced U-shaped rings each extending from said shaft through one of said notches, each of said rings being substantially rectangular in cross section, being of less length than the length of the notch through which it extends, and having a latching protuberance extending therefrom near the free end thereof of a size which causes said ring to be narrower at said protuberance point than the widest portion and wider than the narrow est portion of each of said ring slots for permitting each of said rings to enter one of said ring slots and to lock said ring bar against rotation on said base bar; a latch positioned on said fiat portion of said base bar for rotative and translative motion upon said base bar to either a latching or unlatching position, said latch consisting of a body portion having an elongated slot formed therein, a finger piece formed on said body portion near one of the ends thereof, and a tooth extending from said body portion, one of the walls of said latch tooth being so inclined with reference to that edge of said latch body member which it meets as to form an acute angular notch with said edge, said latch tooth having a nodule extending upwardly therefrom to a height slightly greater than the roof of said latch tooth receiving slot, and said latch tooth being so positioned as to extend through said latch tooth receivin slot formed in said notched wall and contact an edge of said ring bar when said ring bar is in the closed and latched position and said latch is in the latching position to hold said ring bar against translative motion relatively to said base bar; and a pivot extending through said elongated slot and attaching said latch to said central portion of said base bar.

ERNEST A. THESIERES. 

